The Afghanistan team is currently making rapid strides in International Cricket, especially after being awarded the Test status and winning the ICC World Cup Qualifiers to progress into the main event in England next year.
Afghanistan’s will play its inaugural Test match against India, after receiving the honorary accolade.
The match is scheduled at Bengaluru, but before that, they lock horns against Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series at Dehradun.
Sharafuddin Ashraf, who hit the winning runs for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, who was present during the practice session, gave an interview revealing the hardships they had to suffer to get where they are.
Ashraf claimed each one in the Afghan team has an inspiring tale to talk about.
“In terms of our personal struggle, every player in the squad will have a story to tell. Just like India have MS Dhoni, whose story is known worldwide, we have eleven Dhoni-like stories in our team. Who have gone through a lot in life already? A film can be made on each one of them,” Sharafuddin Ashraf told a Sportskeeda correspondent.
Also Read: Venkatesh Prasad Heaps Praises on the Current Crop of Indian Fast Bowlers.
It will be a good battle between Afghan spinners and Indian batting line-up: Ashraf
“There would be no international cricketer from Afghanistan who hasn’t faced immense struggles in his career. Our seniors were up against steeper challenges than we are. As we still have this platform and such facilities for us today,” continued Ashraf.
Also, their preparation for the first-ever Test match is going at ‘full swing’.
“India is a world class team. Our preparations for the Test are going on in full swing. It is extremely difficult to beat India in India,” added Ashraf, well aware of the challenge in hand.
Also Read: Shakib Al Hasan Backs Afghanistan to do Well in Test Cricket.
That said, the likes of Nabi, Rashid, Mujeeb, and many others are capable of upsetting any opposition in front of them,
“However, we have certain exceptional spinners in our ranks. It will be a good battle between them and the Indian batting line-up,” continued Ashraf.
“Anything can happen in cricket; things can turn around in a couple of sessions. I’m sure if our spinners work well. We get a couple of partnerships on the board; we can make a match out of it. I’m sure India won’t take us lightly as well,” concluded Sharafuddin Ashraf
